Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Oklahoma Magazine's November 2008 issue has an article (Click here to view it) entitled "75 Great Oklahoma Websites." I am pleased to be named and to be in such fine company. I am also very proud that so many of the websites selected are authored by Oklahoma women!:-)

Photo credit: The above image was lifted without permission from the Oklahoma Magazinewebsite. Did I mention that you can subscribe to this fine magazine by clicking here?

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Judy Petry of Elk City, Oklahoma, was recently named woman of the year by the League of Railway Industry Women. Read story here.

Aside: A few decades ago, I was head of the state's rail planning division of the Oklahoma Dept of Transportation. I was also the total staff. In spite of my best efforts, I didn't manage to save many rail lines so I don't admit it too often. At Gov David Boren's request, I agreed to be the initial state rail planner (with emphasis on planner); I was followed in the position by former State legislator Jim Townsend -- who knew a lot more about railroads that me.

Monday, October 20, 2008

In August, 1994, the Oklahoma City Art Museum board of directors hired Carolyn Hill as its museum director. Hill is a native of Oklahoma City and had previously operated a private art gallery in New York City. She has done a marvelous job steering the art museum including building the new three-story, 110,000 sq. ft. facility with 15 galleries, 3 education rooms, a library, a store, a café, and theater in downtown Oklahoma; adding to the collection including Mary Cassatt's Portrait of Katherine Cassatt, Pierre-Auguste Renoir's Buste de Femme; the 55-foot glass sculpture comprised of 2,100 hand-blown pieces created by renowned artist Dale Chihuly; and 1,500 additional Chihuly pieces of hand-blown glass; numerous spectacular traveling exhibitions and more. Her replacement has been named and she will retire later this year. Thank you, Carolyn, for your wonderful contributions to Oklahoma.

We know it is woefully incomplete and sometimes even inaccurate. We are trying to add new groups to the list as soon as we learn about them (In fact, I just added W.O.M.E.N. at University of Central Oklahoma to the list tonight.)

Would you please look over the list and send me any additions or changes we need to make?

And would you also please pass information about the Oklahoma Women's Coalition along to any women's groups you know of that might want to be apart of this new effort to speak for women and girls at the State Capitol?

Friday, October 10, 2008

If you WANT to get involved, we'll put you on one of our great working committees. You can tell your grandchildren someday how you were a pioneer on behalf of Oklahoma women and girls.

If you DON'T want to get deeply involved in "yet another club," just receive our newsletters and action alerts. Join because we need to be able to tell legislators that we represent lots of people from all across the State of Oklahoma. (And I am hoping that, when you get our Action Alerts, you may even send an email to or call your State Representative or Senator.)

Join because, frankly, we need your $25 to pay for a subscription to a bill tracking service and to pay for other expenses necessary to be the voice for women and girls at the State Capitol.

But mostly join because you'll be helping to make a positive difference in Oklahoma!

We're not a girls club. Men are welcome and encouraged to join, too. You guys have mothers and sisters and daughters and wives (well, one, anyway) and you know Oklahoma has a long way to go in seeing that they don't encounter barriers in achieving their full potential.

An article in The City Sentinel reports that Oklahoma County Clerk Carolynn Caudill has been recognized for excellence by the Government Finance Officers Association. They say that the latest annual financial report Caudill's office produced earned her their Certificate of Achievement - the highest form of recognition in government accounting and financiqal reporting. This is the 14th year for Caudill to receive this recognition.

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Oklahoman Wanda Jackson, the first woman to perform rock and roll, is on the 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Final Ballot. There are nine individuals and groups and she still has be be selected (see below). Cross your fingers. The Hall of fame is way overdue in recognizinging this remarkable Oklahoman.

New York (September 22, 2008)—The nominations for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum were announced today. The nine nominees are: Jeff Beck, Chic, Wanda Jackson, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Metallica, Run-D.M.C., the Stooges, War, and Bobby Womack. Ballots will be sent to more than 500 voters, who will select artists to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the 24th Annual Induction Ceremony on April 4 at historic Public Hall in Cleveland. For the first time, tickets to the ceremony will be made available to the public. For more, click here.

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Renowned and highly respected Oklahoma City business and civic leader Meg Salyer (right) recently filed for the Ward 6 seat on the City of Oklahoma City's Council. The position is being vacated by Ann Simank (left) because her son is becoming an OKC fireman and OKC has a no nepotism policy. Ann Simank endorsed Salyerbringing her campaign resources, followers and the blessing of a dearly loved and respected public official. Then Salyer's only opponent, Clarence Warstler ended his campaign because of a death in his family. So it is a done deal. Meg Salyer is the next Ward 6 City Councilwoman for Oklahoma City. Yeah for Meg and yeah for OKC because this means there will still be one solitary female serving on the 9-member city council.

Click here to read a nice article on this topic from The Journal Record. (It actually comes to us through Examiner.com since The Journal Recordusually makes you have a subscription to access their website. (Boo, hiss, Mary Melon; once a story is 3+ days old, why not put it out on the Internet and bring some well deserved recognition to your excellent newspaper?)

Saturday, October 04, 2008

The Oklahoman reported today that "Four Oklahoma companies were recognized for excellence in service and business performance Thursday evening at the 18th Annual Minority Business Leadership Awards Dinner in Oklahoma City." Two of the four firms were women-owned businesses. They are B&S Quality Printing Inc., a Hispanic-American company owned by Sandra Dickinson in Oklahoma City that since 1984 has provided printing services using the industry’s top multi-color Heidelberg presses and Trans-Tel Central, a Norman-based American Indian company founded in 1974 and owned by Audrey Pirtle, providing solutions in IT, communications systems and information systems. Congratulations to both Sandra and Audrey!

After years of working for others, with her husbands support and help Teresa Moisant set out in 1990 to run her own business. Today Moisant Promotional Products enjoys $2.5 M annual sales. The firm is an advertising speciality-products comapny that operates out of Moisant's South Oklahoma City home. Best of all, Teresa's two daughters – Christi Moisant and Shelly Moisant Rainwater -- work for the firm and will probably take over the management some day! Read The Journal Record article by clicking here.

Thursday, October 02, 2008

The first board meeting of the Oklahoma Women's Coalition was held today in Oklahoma City. So, we are officially launched! This board is composed of an extraordinary group of women leaders from across the state committed to advancing the potential and equity of Oklahoma women and girls. We set up committees and elected chairs for Membership, Advocacy, Communications, Day at the Capitol, Finance, Fundraising and Leadership Development. So now we can officially recruit members. I'll blog soon on how to join and what we will be doing. I hope many of you will want to become a member of this statewide effort to provide a voice for women and girls at the Oklahoma State Capitol.